Oral Examination and Radiographic Evaluation of the Dentition in Wild Cats from Namibia

摘要

Feline tooth resorption has heeti widely reported in domestic eats and sporadically described in other Jelidue. The goal of the present study was to determine the prevalence of tooth resorption and to report other dental problems in a population of wild felidae. Ohsetralions of denial disorders and anomalies were made in skulls fiwn 73 wild felidae (cheetahs, leojutnls. caracals. African wildcats, and lions) originating from Xamihia. In addition, ixtdiographs were taken in 43 cases to determine signsof bone and root pathology Radiographs showed varying stages of tooth resorption in 16.0 % of the specimens. Other dental anomalies found included fused teeth, supernumeraty roots, or missing teeth. The prevalence of dental resorption in wild felidae was lower than reported in the domestic cat.